Communication system between a portable unit and a communication terminal

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a communication system between a portable unit, such as a watch, and a communication terminal ( 2 ) such as a personal computer or PC, characterized in that the communication terminal ( 2 ) includes at least means for transmitting an acoustic signal carrying, and in that the portable unit ( 1 ) includes at least processing means for processing data, and receiving and conversion means for picking up said acoustic signal and converting said acoustic signal into data intended to be processed by said processing means.

The present invention concerns a communication system between a portableunit such as a watch and a communication terminal such as a personalcomputer or PC.

A system for processing personal data is known from U.S. Pat. No.5,848,027 in the name of Biometrics Inc. This system allows, forexample, the performance of an athlete, such as a runner, to bemonitored. It enables the date and time of the race, the time for eachlap, or the final time accumulated by the sportsman to be recorded. Thesystem also enables the values of certain physiological parameters to berecorded, such as the heart rate or an electrocardiogram (ECG) whichreflect the effort made by the athlete during his sporting activity. Allthis information will then be transmitted, via an acoustic link, to apersonal computer in which the data will be processed, analysed, thenfinally displayed on the screen of said computer.

The Biometrics system described above advantageously enables personaldata to be stored in a watch, then the data to be transmitted byacoustic waves to a computer where they will be processed and analysed.This system is unfortunately not two-directional. It is thus notpossible to transfer data from the computer to the watch, whichconsiderably limits the possible applications of the Biometrics system.

Moreover, communication systems wherein data is exchanged in atwo-directional manner via a wireless link between a portable object anda communication terminal are known. By way of example, the case ofdigital personal assistant (PDA) able to communicate with a personalcomputer via radio-frequency waves may be cited.

When he is in his office, the user of such a system can enter histimetable for his working week into his computer, then transfer thisdata to his PDA. When travelling, the user can thus consult his diary atany time and see his commitments and availability. During a meeting, atime for another working session can be fixed at a subsequent date. Thususer can thus enter this new meeting into his electronic PDA as well as,for example, the identity and telephone number of the person he ismeeting. When he returns to the office, the user will be able totransfer the new data entered into his PDA to the computer and updatehis timetable.

A wireless communication system via radio-frequency waves has beendescribed. It goes without saying that other wireless communicationsystems, for example by infrared link or by inductive link, may also beused. All these systems advantageously allow a two-directionalcommunication to be established for exchanging data between a portableunit and a communication terminal. However, these systems have thedrawback of requiring transmission and/or receiving means suitable forthe type of wireless link used, the cost and installation price of suchmeans often being very high.

The object of the present Invention is to overcome the above problemsand drawbacks in addition to others by proposing a reliable andinexpensive wireless communication system between a portable unit and acommunication terminal.

The present invention thus concerns a communication system between aportable unit such as a watch, and a communication terminal such as apersonal computer or PC, characterised in that the communicationterminal includes at least means for transmitting an acoustic signalcarrying an item of data, and in that the portable unit includes atleast processing means for processing data, and receiving and conversionmeans for picking up said acoustic signal and converting said acousticsignal into data intended to be processed by said processing means.

As a result of these features, it is possible to enter data, for exampleinto a personal computer, then to transfer said data via an acousticlink to the portable unit such as a wristwatch. A sound wavecommunication system which is much simpler, and consequently much lessexpensive than other currently known communication systems, for exampleinfrared or radio-frequency systems, is thus obtained. Mostcommunication terminals can, in fact, be used within the scope of thepresent invention without it being necessary to modify them or addtransmission and/or receiving means suited to the type of wireless linkused. Thus, when the communication terminal is a personal computer, onecan use the loudspeakers which are commonly fitted to such computers tosend an acoustic signal to the portable unit. One need only enter intothe computer a programme allowing the acoustic signal to be modulated sothat It can then be decoded by the portable unit. Likewise, when theacoustic signal is transmitted by a radio or by a television, one needonly ensure that before being broadcast, the signal has been suitablymodulated, so that it can then be received and converted Into data ableto be processed by the processing means of the portable unit.

According to another aspect, the present invention concerns acommunication system of the aforementioned type, characterised in thatthe portable unit further includes conversion and transmission means forconverting data provided by said processing means of said portable unitinto an acoustic signal carrying data and for transmitting an acousticsignal and In that the communication terminal further includesprocessing means for processing data and receiving and converting meansfor receiving said acoustic signal transmitted by the portable unit andfor converting the signal into data intended to be processed by saidprocessing means of said communication terminal.

As a result of these other features, one can not only transmit data fromthe communication terminal to the portable unit, but also transmit datafrom the portable unit to the data terminal, which considerablyincreases the number of possible applications of the communicationsystem according to the invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear moreclearly upon reading the following detailed description of an embodimentexample of the communication system according to the invention, thisexample being given purely by way of non-limiting illustration, inconjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first variant of the communicationsystem between a portable unit and a communication terminal according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second variant of the communicationsystem according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a third variant of the communicationsystem according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows an electric diagram of a circuit for converting an acousticsignal into data intended to be processed by the processing means of theportable unit.

FIG. 5 shows the voltage levels as a function of time at two places inthe circuit of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 shows the voltage levels as a function of time at two places inthe circuit of FIG. 4 when the circuit is used as a sound wave receiver.

Within the meaning of the invention, “portable unit”, means any objectof small dimensions, such as, in a preferred but non limiting manner, awristwatch, able to pick up an acoustic signal carrying data andtransform this acoustic signal into data able to be processed byprocessing means to extract the data carried by the acoustic signal.According to a complementary feature of the invention, the portableobject is also able to transmit data coded acoustic signals.

Within the meaning of the invention, “communication terminal” means anydevice such as, for example, a personal computer, a radio, a television,or a voice server able to be accessed by telephone and able to transmitacoustic signals carrying data. According to a complementary feature ofthe invention, the communication terminal is also capable of picking updata coded acoustic signals and transforming such acoustic signals intodata able to be processed by processing means to extract the datacarried by the acoustic signals.

FIG. 1 shows schematically a portable object such as, for example, atimepiece, designated as a whole by the general reference numeral 1, anda communication terminal such as, for example, a personal computer orPC, designated as a whole by the general reference numeral 2.

According to the invention, communication terminal 2 includes means fortransmitting acoustic signals carrying data. In the example shown inFIG. 1, these means take the form of a sound card 4 arranged inside thepersonal computer, and one or more loudspeakers 6.

One of the advantages of the present invention also lies in the factthat it is not necessary to modify the structure of the computer or toadd to the computer transmission elements suited to the type of wirelesslink used. In order to be able to implement the invention, one need onlyenter into the computer a programme allowing it to modulate the acousticsignal so that the signal can then be suitably decoded by portable unit1.

When communication terminal 2 transmits an acoustic signal carryingdata, this signal is immediately picked up by the receiving means ofportable unit 1. These receiving means are formed by an electro-acoustictransducer 8 which plays the role of a microphone and whichconventionally converts the incident acoustic signal into a successionof electric signals which will then be converted by conversion means ofportable unit 1 into data intended to be processed by processing meansin order to extract the useful data carried by the acoustic signal. Inthe example shown in FIG. 1, the conversion means of portable unit 1include an amplifier 10 for the electric signal produced byelectro-acoustic transducer 8 and a demodulator 12 connected to signalamplifier 10 and intended to demodulate the acoustic signal received bytransducer 8 and to transmit the demodulated signal to an input of amicrocontroller 14. Microcontroller 14 constitutes the processing meansof portable object 1. The data carried by the acoustic signaltransmitted by communication terminal 2, demodulated by demodulator 12and processed by microcontroller 14, can be stored in a memory 16 ofportable object 1 and/or displayed on a display device 18 for example aliquid crystal display. A battery 20, which may be rechargeable,supplies portable unit 1 with electric current.

In the following description, those elements which are identical tothose described hereinbefore will be designated by the same referencenumerals.

According to another aspect of the invention, with reference to FIG. 2,the case in which portable unit 1 transmits an acoustic signal tocommunication terminal 2, will now be examined. In this case, portableunit 1 will include, in addition to the means described hereinbefore,conversion and transmission means for converting data provided by theprocessing means of portable unit 1 into a modulated acoustic signalcontaining data and for transmitting this signal. As shown in FIG. 2,the conversion means of portable unit 1 include a modulation circuit 22which, via a drive circuit 24, drive the transmission means, namely anelectro-acoustic transducer 26 acting as a loudspeaker. The processingmeans of portable unit 1, i.e. microcontroller 14, control modulationcircuit 22 using data originating from memory 16 associated with saidmicrocontroller 14.

When portable unit 1 transmits an acoustic signal containing data, thissignal is immediately picked up by the receiving means, in this case amicrophone 28, of communication terminal 2. This acoustic signal is thenconverted by conversion means of communication terminal 2 into data ableto be processed by processing means of said communication terminal 2. Inthe event that communication terminal 2 is a personal computer or PC,the conversion means for the acoustic signal carrying data are formedconventionally by the sound card 4 described hereinbefore which iscapable of converting the acoustic signal received by microphone 28 intobinary data which will be transmitted to an input of the microcontroller(not shown) of the personal computer in order to be demodulated andconverted into data which can be stored in a memory of saidmicrocontroller.

In the event that portable unit 1 transmits an acoustic signalcontaining data to the personal computer, one advantage of the presentinvention lies, here too, in the fact that it is not necessary to modifythe personal computer to add components to it which are suitable for thetype of wireless communication used.

According to another of its advantages, the present invention provides atwo-directional communication system via acoustic waves between aportable unit 1 and a: communication terminal 2. This system is muchsimpler to implement and less expensive than other two-directionalcommunication systems using, for example, an infrared link or aradio-frequency link. Moreover, with respect to systems of the prior artusing communication via acoustic waves but only in a single directionfrom a watch to a PC, the system according to the invention permits amuch larger number of applications.

According to a complementary feature of the invention, the conversionand transmission means and the receiving and conversion means ofportable unit 1 use a single same electro-acoustic transducer 30 whichoperates in a reversible manner, i.e. both as a microphone and as aloudspeaker (see FIG. 3). When electro-acoustic transducer 30 operatesin receiver mode, the electric signal which it generates via the effectof an incident electric signal is amplified by amplifier 10 thendemodulated by demodulator 12. The signal demodulated by demodulator 12is then transmitted to the input of microcontroller 14. Conversely, whenelectro-acoustic transducer 30 acts as a loudspeaker, it is activated bymodulation circuit 22 via drive circuit 24. Microcontroller 14 controlsmodulation circuit 22 using data originating from memory 16 associatedwith said microcontroller 14.

A particular embodiment of electro-acoustic transducer 30, whichconsists in using a piezoelectric vibrator usually used as a soundgenerator in watches including an alarm device, as the acoustic wavereceiver and/or transmitter, will now be examined. An electroniccomparator circuit which is connected to the terminals of thepiezoelectric vibrator and which generates at its output apseudo-digital signal representative of the incident sound signal pickedup by the vibrator and allowing the functions of a microcontroller to becontrolled, will also be examined.

FIG. 4 shows an electronic converter designated on a whole by thegeneral reference numeral 32. As FIG. 4 shows, the aforementionedelectronic converter 32 is formed by associating a drive circuit 34 of apiezoelectric vibrator P with a comparison circuit whose respectiveoperating principles will be described hereinafter.

Drive circuit 34 of piezoelectric vibrator P includes a circuit branchin which a coil L and a diode D are;mounted in series, a resistor R′ andpiezoelectric vibrator P being connected in parallel across this circuitbranch.

Drive circuit 34 receives at an input terminal “a” a square pulsecontrol signal “v”(curve A, FIG. 5). This control signal is applied viaa resistor R to the base of a transistor T_(R). When transistor T_(R) ismade conducting by a control pulse, a current supplied by a voltagesource +E passes through coil L, whereas the connection node “b” ofpiezoelectric vibrator P is connected to earth of drive circuit 34. Whentransistor T_(R) passes to the non conducting state on the trailing edgeof each control pulse, all the energy accumulated in coil L istransmitted to the terminals of vibrator P, charging vibrator P at avoltage “v”(curve B, FIG. 5) higher than supply voltage +E. Whenvibrator P in turn starts to be discharged, diode D stops the currentreturning. It will be noted that between two successive pulse controlsignals, piezoelectric vibrator P can anyway be partially dischargedthrough resistor R′. Thus, when there is no longer any control signalapplied to transistor T_(R) and the latter is thus in the non conductingstate, the voltage across the terminals of vibrator P gradually returnsto its rest value +E.

The operation of comparison circuit 36 will now be examined. Thiscircuit includes comparing means formed by an analogue-digital converterCOMP. One of the inputs of comparator COMP is connected to a connectionnode “c” of dc power source +E, whereas the other input of saidcomparator COMP is connected to output node “b” of drive circuit 34, inother words to the connection node between piezoelectric vibrator P andtransistor T_(R). As already specified hereinbefore, in the absence of acontrol signal applied at the base of transistor T_(R), vibrator P is atrest and the voltage across its terminals is equal to supply voltage +E(curve B, FIG. 6). In these conditions, piezoelectric vibrator P is nolonger used as a sound generator but may, conversely, be used as anacoustic wave receiver. Thus, under the effect of an incident acousticsignal, the voltage across the terminals of vibrator P will start tooscillate on either side of its rest voltage +E as is shown by curve Bof FIG. 6. Comparator COMP then compares the voltage generated byvibrator P with its reference voltage which is supply voltage +E ofdrive circuit 34. Each time that the voltage generated by piezoelectricvibrator P exceeds reference voltage +E, comparator COMP will generate apulse signal at its output “d” (curve D, FIG. 6). It is thus possible toconvert an acoustic signal into a pseudo-digital signal. Thepseudo-digital signal will then be used to control a microprocessor MPas is described in detail in the European Patent Application No.99115319.8 in the name of the Applicant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication system between a portable unitand a communication terminal, the communication terminal including atleast means for transmitting an acoustic signal carrying data, and theportable unit including at least processing means for processing data,and receiving and conversion means including an electro-acoustictransducer for picking up said acoustic signal and converting saidacoustic signal into data intended to be processed by said processingmeans, wherein the receiving means of the portable unit include anamplifier for the electric signal generated by the electro-acoustictransducer and a demodulator connected to the signal amplifier andintended for demodulating the acoustic signal received by the transducerand to transmit the demodulated signal to an input of a microcontrollerwhich constitutes the processing means of said portable unit, the datacarried by the acoustic signal transmitted by the communication terminaldemodulated by the demodulator and processed by the microcontrollerbeing stored in a memory associated with said microcontroller, theportable unit further including conversion and transmission means forconverting data supplied by said processing means of said portable unitinto an acoustic signal carrying data and for transmitting an acousticsignal, the communication terminal further including processing meansfor processing data and receiving and conversion means for receivingsaid acoustic signal transmitted by the portable unit and for convertingsaid acoustic signal into data intended to be processed by saidprocessing means of said communication terminal wherein the portableunit includes an alarm device, the receiving and conversion means of theportable unit and the conversion and transmission means of the portableunit including a same electro-acoustic transducer used as a soundgenerator in said device of the portable unit.
 2. The communicationsystem according to claim 1, wherein the conversion means of theportable unit include a modulation circuit which, via a drive circuit,activates the electro-acoustic transducer, the processing means of theportable unit which include a microcontroller controlling the modulationcircuit using data originating from a memory associated with saidmicrocontroller.
 3. A communication system according to claim 1, whereinthe receiving and conversion means of the portable unit include a soundgenerator circuit provided with a piezoelectric vibrator formingreceiving means for the acoustic signal.
 4. A communication systemaccording to claim 3, wherein the receiving and conversion means of theportable unit further include comparison means for comparing the voltagegenerated by the piezoelectric vibrator when the acoustic signal isreceived with a reference voltage, these comparison means generating anelectric signal representative of the data carried by said acousticsignal.